In Dabbling in Diplomacy: Authorised & Otherwise, Recollections of a Non-Career Diplomat, Professor SD Muni offers a firsthand account of India’s diplomatic engagements, interwoven with personal reflections on key moments in South Asian politics. The book blends history, strategy, and personal narrative to provide a textured perspective on India’s foreign policy evolution, making it an essential read for scholars, policymakers, and observers of the region. To explore India’s diplomatic manoeuvres, the strategic imperatives that have shaped its South Asia policy, and lessons for the country’s future engagements, Dr Manu Sharma interviewed Professor SD Muni:
The return of the monarchy in Nepal is irrational…Monarchist groups can organise protests but lack broad public support. Some in India romanticise a Hindu monarchy, thinking a king would favour India. But historically, the monarchy never served India’s interests—it partnered with China and Pakistan and fuelled anti-Indian nationalism. It failed to harness Nepal’s hydropower. Backing monarchy from India is driven by nostalgia and ideology, not strategic thinking
How do you assess India’s current relations with its South Asian neighbours and its approach to regional challenges?
I am not a great admirer of the Neighbourhood First policy. It is a good concept, but its implementation has put us in trouble. That said, there are some positive developments. Over the past decade, we have allocated more assistance to our neighbours, which is a good sign. We have also tried to bridge what I call the delivery deficit—the gap between our promises and actual delivery. Often, commitments are not fully honoured, or when they are, they fail to meet the recipient country’s satisfaction. This issue is systemic.